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Does Tobacco Outlet Inequality Extend to High-White Mid-Atlantic Jurisdictions? A Study of Socioeconomic Status and Density

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Abstract

Tobacco outlet density research has evolved to require a more refined examination of socioeconomic status’ influence beyond median household income. This study investigates the effects of SES on census-tract-level tobacco outlet density in five predominantly White Maryland jurisdictions. Tobacco license addresses and demographic data were analyzed via t tests and spatial lag modeling. Results showed that higher SES jurisdictions had lower tobacco outlet density than lower SES jurisdictions despite similar White populations and that median household income had consistent associations with tobacco outlet density. This study corroborates findings that differences in SES correlate with differences in tobacco outlet density between racially similar areas.

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32 DA007292).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Community Health & Policy, Morgan State University, Portage Building, Room 204, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD, 21251, USA

    David O. Fakunle

  2. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    David O. Fakunle & Philip J. Leaf

  3. Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Roland J. Thorpe Jr

  4. Division of Public Health, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Flint, MI, USA

    C. Debra M. Furr-Holden

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Frank C. Curriero

Authors
  1. David O. Fakunle
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  2. Roland J. Thorpe Jr
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  3. C. Debra M. Furr-Holden
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  4. Frank C. Curriero
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  5. Philip J. Leaf
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Correspondence to David O. Fakunle.

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Fakunle, D.O., Thorpe, R.J., Furr-Holden, C.D.M. et al. Does Tobacco Outlet Inequality Extend to High-White Mid-Atlantic Jurisdictions? A Study of Socioeconomic Status and Density. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 6, 409–418 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00538-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00538-9

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